DirecTV Plus HD DVR

I completely cancelled all of my HD packages...I only have basic cable now. The only thing I really miss is ESPNHD on Saturdays. I think there was another thread about the lackluster HD channels included in most packages...it's just not worth it for what you get. All of the best network HD content is OTA & free...I'll revisit satellite when the HD offerings get a bit more fleshed out with the new MPEG4 satellites they're getting up.

 

afgm, I would double check on the lease/buy thing. I think the $300 or whatever you pay up front is called a "lease upgrade fee":

(1) Any DIRECTV® Receiver System purchased after 02/28/2006 will only be activated under DIRECTV®'s new equipment lease program.

*shrug*

 

Thanks for the heads up I'll check.

Update: Just got the seemingly inevitable call...the install doesn't have the DVR or the correct dish. They have rescheduled for Sunday. I even called this AM to confirm. Great took a day off for this. I think I'll use the rest of my day calling DTV for compensation.

 

ugh, that sucks I'm sure you'll get it for free now! I'll be calling today to wrangle a deal as well.

 

There is an install thread on dbstalk -- it seems a lot of people are getting pushed back 1 or more times...

A guy at work got his on the first try, but the installer did have to go back to the shop for another unit since the first unit wouldn't power on.

 

I was able to wrangle the unit for $150 - $160 in service credits ($10 off total choice plus, and 4 months free HD package) not bad I suppose... would have rather had it for free plus those credits =)

 

Boomer,

What a game. It's like buying trinkets in Mexico. Sounds like a good deal.

 

Oh, my install is "scheduled" for Oct 26th -- we'll see if it actually happens on the first attempt=)

 

I've had the HR20 for around 3 weeks now... IMO it is krapp compared to my 5 year old DirecTivo box.

Goods:

• HD picture quality is very nice
• The interface is OK, but again is not as intuitive as the TiVo. It would be nice if you could turn off the "slide" animations when you scroll up/down.
• remote is nice, with a rubberized feel
• the box looks pretty
• it's got USB, ethernet, and SATA ports.... will they ever be enabled??

Bads:

• The ff/rw is clunky and slow, not silky smooth like the old tivo..
• No predictive ff/rw (taking into account your reaction time.. I guess this is a tivo patent)
• the 30-second "skip" feature is pretty much worthless compared to the instant skip of the tivo... all it does is fast-forward to make advertisers happy.
• you can hear the hard drive seeking...
• no hacks yet

Hopefully software updates will address these issues! I hope the programmers put in easter eggs like the tivo folks to enable features not generally available to the public.
(S-P-S-3-0-S, etc...)

 

Boomer,

Good review.

I would add the local HD channels are great. I've not had HD local until I got this box, so some of the flaws you point out are diluted for me.

The most annoying is the ff/rw. The old DirecTivo box had it right. This one seems to be slower and not as accurate. It gets little better with practice, but not much.

I've also had to reboot a couple times. Nothing major, and I am not even sure if it is the HR20 or the signal.

I'd still make the change because of the HD picture quality. And for me the addition of HD Local. BTW, football is awesome in HD!

What is S-P-S-3-0-S? The best cable/tv/game hack I know is Joerig and I would image he may have some insight into this.

 

I think S-P-S-3-0-S enables a 30-second skip feature on your Tivo. And, as Boomer mentioned, it is a true "skip", as opposed to DirecTV's which seems to be a 30-sec FF.

I have had two DirecTV H20's (no DVR) with local HD channels in Atlanta for almost a year. There were some definite growing pains (and one of my H20's has already needed to be replaced), but I'm quite happy with my DirecTV service now. And the local HD's rock!

Now if only the major networks would start broadcasting more programs in HD. They're pretty good in prime time, but outside of that window there is not much. I actually had to watch the Atlanta Falcons game this weekend in non-HD 4:3 on CBS. Inexcusable!

 

yeah, locals are nice too... plus when the enable OTA it will be even better quality. the SPS30S was a code to enabled the 30-second skip on the tivo... it was great for skipping through commercial blocks or between plays in football. Basically what the HR20 skip forward button does, but it instantly did it instead of doing a ff through the 30secs.

The "chunky" ff/rw is the biggest for me... also, the tivo had the 15-minute tic marks that you could skip to if you needed to move around in the program in big jumps.

I wish they made the progress bar better as well. The tivo one had good contrast. this one has one solid color (orange/red I think) and then a tiny white indicator as to where you are in the program.

the biggest for me was the HD CSN feed so I can watch the Capitals in HD =)

I guess my biggest frustration is being without certain features that I've had for over 5 years...